Learning has changed from day-long training to half-hour lessons like cricket has gone from Tests to T20: Rajiv Jayaraman

CHENNAI: Since he set up e-learning company KNOLSKAPE in July 2008, Rajiv Jayaraman has worked with over 300 clients in 22 countries. With 125 employees in four countries and funding from Inventus Capital Partners and The HR Fund, Jayaraman says there is more to achieve. He tells TOI why he left Silicon Valley to start up in India.

You worked in Silicon Valley at Oracle. Why did you leave and take the entrepreneurial plunge?My day job in R&D at Oracle excited me but it took too long to see the fruits of my work. I dabbled in theatre and filmmaking, which gave me immediate satisfaction. I wanted a blend of these worlds and took a break in 2007. I did an MBA at INSEAD, and as part of the course, played a simulation game. I felt alive as a learner, filled with curiosity. It was a powerful experience and it was the blend of tech and storytelling that I was seeking. In 2008, I set up KNOLSKAPE to offer talent transformation through experiential learning.

E-learning has picked up pace in the last few years. What are the changes you have observed in the last 10 years?In 2008, e-learning content was static and non-interactive. I knew this was not sustainable. Then we saw the emergence of mobile learning, virtual and augmented reality. What is important is that learners' needs have changed. Earlier, the company had control over content, how it is designed and disseminated. That monopoly doesn't exist anymore. Everyone has access to high quality content. The modern learner is constantly distracted and doesn't have time for learning. We are looking at how learning can be made an integral part of the daily schedule so one doesn't have to take a detour.

There are many players in this field. How do you differentiate yourself?We have created world-class simulations aligned to leadership and professional development needs. Our omnichannel model gives us a unique play. The learner is at the centre of our products and we create an ecosystem around the learner. For instance, our video-based platform creates situations and gets learner responses. We have attached an AI layer that helps us extract insights based on 15 parameters. The psychometric space has not seen much activity in the past 50-60 years. We are exploring whether it can be replaced with something more intelligent and contextual and conduct psychometric assessments real time. Ability to scale experience is crucial. Like cricket has transformed from five-day tests to T20, learning has moved from day-long training to half-hour lessons. We need to accelerate learning without sacrificing scale or experience.

How do you compare the startup ecosystem in India and Silicon Valley?I've had the opportunity to work in India, Silicon Valley and Singapore. In Silicon Valley, a few brilliant engineers from well-funded universities set up the likes of Facebook and Google. Professors angel invested and helped them take it to a proof-of-concept stage. VCs came in and large enterprises were willing to work with small companies. These companies eventually grew to become public and invested in educational institutions. This created an ecosystem. In Singapore, they have taken the top-down approach. The government broadly decides which sector will get impetus, funding and support. It is a carefully orchestrated ecosystem. There is no right or wrong here. In India, there is a lot of activity. There are accelerators and the government doing its bit. However, to create something truly global, there is a missing link, which we have to figure out.

Your wife works with you at KNOLSKAPE. How does that work out? What do you do in your free time?Our areas are mutually exclusive. She handles parts that I don't have the aptitude for, like finance, and I handle tech. Our worlds are almost separate. Now, she is playing an active role in the content side. At home, we try not to discuss work and we manage it. Post dinner, sometimes I use her as a sounding board because she always has a well-thought-out answer to problems. I love reading. At any point of time, I read four books. I enjoy spending time with my kids, playing music with them. I used to be reluctant to travel but my family has slowly drawn me to it.

(This article was originally published in The Times of India)

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